Conditions of a Leader?...The Story That Moved Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor

[Park Jong-il Autonomous News] Choi Ho-gwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Encourages Staff to "Work Enthusiastically, I'll Be Your Shield" at First Executive Meeting on the 12th, Employees Moved

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The leader of an organization holds a challenging position.

It is a position that can determine the survival of the organization. Therefore, it carries a great deal of responsibility.

This is true not only for private companies but also for public institutions. The development of an organization can depend on the leader.

For this reason, leaders are required to have various qualities such as vision, decisiveness, communication skills, responsibility, and inclusiveness.

The 8th term of the elected local government began on July 1. Mayor Oh Se-hoon and 25 district heads of Seoul started their terms. Notably, 17 first-term district heads were newly appointed in Seoul.

Among them, Choi Ho-kwon, the district head of Yeongdeungpo-gu (photo), is also one of the first-term district heads in Seoul. On the 12th, Choi presided over his first executive meeting after taking office.

At the meeting, reports on measures to protect residents against summer floods and heatwaves, as well as prevention measures for the resurgence of COVID-19, were discussed.

At this meeting, Choi opened by saying, “I apologize for moving today’s meeting 30 minutes earlier due to other schedules,” and added, “I will shield you from external pressures to create an environment where you can work enthusiastically, so please work hard.”

Choi made a request to the executives representing the staff, saying, “I will block external pressures and take responsibility, so please work enthusiastically.”

Upon hearing this, a key team leader said, “Ah... I had heard good evaluations of District Head Choi, but his fundamental philosophy is truly different. I was excited because I had never heard such words from any previous district head.” He added, “I was surprised to see the true image of a leader (head of an institution).”

Choi is an elite public official with a distinguished career, having started his first public service at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office after passing the administrative exam, worked there for three years, then moved to Seoul City Hall, and later served at the Blue House, the Science and Technology Committee, as Consul General at the Embassy in India, and as Director of Exhibition and Research at the National Gwacheon Science Museum. Despite such a career, he is known for his modesty, which earns him even greater trust.

As local autonomy has been implemented for over 30 years, the increase in leaders with good virtues like District Head Choi is seen as a positive development.

Until recently, there were many district heads who caused great harm to their colleagues working with them.

However, leaders like District Head Choi, who do not assert authority but inspire staff to work enthusiastically, will invigorate the organization.

Especially in the administrative field, it is true that many leaders have been rigid and authoritarian due to long-standing organizational traditions. While many district heads have bowed to residents, there have been cases where employees working for the residents were made to suffer.

As times change, it is hoped that administrative leaders will also show a more humble attitude in step with the times.

Only when employees work enthusiastically can they, in turn, serve residents with bright faces and wholehearted dedication.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.